Canine Gout Canine Gout Canine Gout - Your Dog can suffer too. Canine Gout is a rare form of Gout and it is often diagnosed as calcium circumscripta ( calcium Gout ) or calcium pyrophosphate-dehydrate disease, which is a chalky liquid that can ooze from a dogs paws or from surgical interference. It can also appear as lesions on the paws of larger dogs. There are of treatments of hepatic support diet ( Liver support diet ) and treatment with colchicine ( which can kill a dog if they eat the human version ) The most common treatment other than dietary changes is the use of allopurinol, and strangely enough a low purine diet change for a dog can help stop them getting a xanthine bladder stone. Additional dietary help should include whole grain cereals with no yeast. There are side effects of allopurinol on dogs such as nausea, cramping, diarrhea and general upset stomach. Also a fatty acid diet with raw egg yolks added can help dramatically. Another treatment can be using charcoal adsorbent material ( Kremezin ) to help metabolism problems .

This form of Gout can appear as lesions and ulceration and can also be linked to animal diabetes and kidney disease. This is also similar to Human Gout, in the fact that it can be genetically passed down in the breed. This form of Gout appears in mainly large breeds of dogs such as : Dalmatians. A large percentage of Dalmatians are unable to convert uric acid into allantoin. The Dalmatian liver cells cannot absorb uric acid hence they cannot urinate it out. This then leads to uric acid stone formations which are then uric acid bladder stones. This affects more male dalmatians than females have stone problems due to their extra urethral additions. The average age of a Gout affected Dalmatian is around the 4.5 year old dog. Keep your Dalmatian off Vitamin B supplements as they are high in purine formation and brewers yeast products. Also keep them off any Vitamin C products as this can also cause over production of acidity and increase chances of stones forming. German Shepherds ( somehow Canine Gout is linked to Hip Dysplasia , which is occurs in German Shepherds more commonly than most other dog breeds.

) Irish Wolfhounds , English Pointers , Rottweilers, Labrador retrievers are all susceptible. Canine Gout appears mainly in the paws and toes, but can also appear in the elbows, the neck area and even on the tongue. It is most common on the hind feet. The use of medicine to reduce the calcified deposits does take time to heal, whilst surgery cutting out the whole lesion shows that the deposit does not come back to this area and heals much faster. These lesions are seem as a granular type of lesion with various sized fibrous tissue surrounding. Studies are now showing that very diluted amounts of Apple Cider Vinegar in a dogs food and water does help alleviate Canine gout over a period of time and lowers the ph levels which is a huge benefit. The use of Emu oil from Australia also seems to help reduce swelling, but check with your vet before going ahead with this form of inflammation reduction. Whilst studying Canine Gout I have just come across a product that may help and it is unusual.. Cherry Hip Bones for Dogs?...sold on Amazon. Click here for a Canine Health Amazon Store that has the Cherry Hip bones and other helpful products for your animal.

Signs to look for to see if your dog has Gout or Stones: Lumps and bleeding in the paw / toe area Chalky white substance oozing out of lesions Bloody urine Dogs and Gout Dogs and Gout May 21, 2010 By: Lisa Newcomb Canine gout is a rare form of gout. The disease generally appears in humans. Certain dog breeds are more susceptible to the disease, but it can be found in any dog. Canine gout can develop as a result of an injury or it can be genetically inherited. If found early, this disease is fully treatable. Canine gout often appears in the paws. Canine Gout Canine gout (Latin name: ascalcium circumscripta) is a rare form of the disease. Humans have gout more often than their canine companions. Gout is the result of a buildup of uric acid in the body that is then deposited into tissues and sometimes bones. According to the website Gout-Aware, canine gout generally appears in a dog’s paws, toes, joints and neck area. The appearance of gout takes the form of calcium-deposit lesions, according to the website.

It can be a painful and sometimes fatal disease if not treated properly but, if caught early, the disease is manageable. Susceptible Breeds Dalmatians are the breed that is most susceptible to gout. Dalmatians are born with a defect in their kidneys and livers that can result in the production of insoluble uric acid, according to an article by orthopedic disorder and dog expert Fred Lanting on the website Doglogic. Other breeds prone to the disease are German shepherds, Irish wolfhounds, English pointers, rottweilers and Labrador retrievers, according to the website Gout-Aware. Symptoms Symptoms of canine gout include a chalky, white substance oozing out of lesions, bloody urine, lumps in or bleeding of the paws, frequent urination in small amounts and lumps on the neck, according to the website Gout-Aware. Some of these symptoms, such frequent urination, can be misdiagnosed as other ailments (in this case a urinary-tract infection) so it’s important to have your dog examined by a licensed veterinarian before diagnosing your dog.

Medicinal Treatment A drug called allopurinol (brand name Zyloprim) is the prescribed treatment for canine gout. It is in a class of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors, which enable the body to process and excrete uric acid through urine. As of May 2010, this drug has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for dogs, but veterinarians may prescribe it by labeling it as an extra-label drug, according to an article on the website Pet Education by Dr. Holly Nash, DVM. Vets can do this under the Medical Drug Use Clarification Act of 1996, which requires a veterinarian-client relationship prior to administering the pill. Alternative Treatment Canine gout is sometimes treatable by a change in diet. Gout-Aware.com recommends a low purine diet, or one that is high in fat and low in protein. Foods should include milk, eggs, cheese, butter and fruit, according to the website. Another alternative is a charcoal material (brand name Kremezin) that can help regulate your dog’s metabolism. Like cute animals? Follow Cuteness.com on Facebook for more AWWs and LOLs.

Related Articles Dogs That Changed The World | Selective Breeding Problems | Nature | PBS Dogs That Changed the World Selective Breeding Problems Explore more from this episode More In the same way that inbreeding among human populations can increase the frequency of normally rare genes that cause diseases, the selective breeding that created the hundreds of modern dog breeds has put purebred dogs at risk for a large number of health problems, affecting both body and behavior. Some conditions are directly related to the features breeders have sought to perpetuate among their dogs. As they deliberately manipulated the appearance of dogs to create or accentuate physical characteristics that were considered aesthetically pleasing, like the flat face of a bulldog or low-slung eyelids of a Bloodhound, breeders also created physical disabilities. The excessively wrinkled skin of the Chinese Shar-Pei causes frequent skin infection; Bulldogs and other flat-faced (or brachycephalic) breeds such as the Pekingese have breathing problems because of their set-back noses and shortened air passages; Bloodhounds suffer chronic eye irritation and infection. The unnaturally large and small sizes of other breeds encourage different problems. For example, toy and miniature breeds often suffer from dislocating kneecaps and heart problems are more common among small dogs.

Giant dogs such as Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, and Great Danes are nearly too big for their own good. Researchers have found a striking correlation between a dog’s large size and a frequency of orthopedic problems like hip dysplasia. Large dogs are often prone to heat prostration because they can’t cool down their bodies (tiny dogs, by contrast, have a hard time staying warm), and because of the massive weight they must support, these breeds are prone to malignant bone tumors in their legs. Meanwhile, the huge head and narrow hips of the Bulldog can necessitate that their pups must be born by Caesarean section. Other health problems among purebreds are the product of both inbreeding and bad genetic luck. The genes responsible for many genetic diseases are “recessive,” which means that two copies of a damaged gene, one from the mother and one from the father, must be present in an individual for the disease to occur. Individuals that carry only one copy of the disease gene don’t have the condition, and are carriers of the disease.

Normally, because disease genes are relatively rare, it is unlikely that both the mother and the father will be carriers, and even less likely that they’ll both give the disease gene to their offspring. But that’s not the case for purebred dog breeds, where genetically similar individuals are intentionally mated, increasing the concentration of disease genes. It’s like stacking a deck of cards with ten extra aces and ten extra face cards; the loaded deck increases your chance of hitting blackjack in a game of 21-but what you “win” might be allergies or a predisposition to cancer. Bloodhounds suffer chronic eye irritation and infection. Skin problems A skin allergy, atopic dermatitis, inflicts itchy, inflamed skin on as many as 15 percent of all dogs, but certain breeds are particularly susceptible. Dog breeds prone to atopic dermatitis include Dalmatians, Vizslas, and several terriers, such as the Boston Terrier, Bull Terrier, and the West Highland White Terrier. The numerous skin folds of a Chinese Shar-Pei, so valued by some breeders, can become breeding grounds for staphylococcus and other bacteria, which cause frequent skin infections.

Also, excess wrinkles of skin on the face can rub on the eye, causing lesions and, potentially, blindness. Immune system disease In autoimmune disorders, an individual’s immune system, which normally works to fight off foreign invaders, launches a misguided attack against its own tissues and cells. A number of inherited diseases compromising the immune system have been noted in dogs, including primary severe combined immunodeficiency (a dog version of the “bubble boy” disease) among Basset hounds, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and Dachshunds. Addison’s disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the hormone-producing adrenal glands, occurs more frequently among several particular breeds, including the Bearded Collie, Portuguese Water Dog, and Standard Poodles. Diabetes mellitus, an autoimmune disorder affecting the body’s response to sugars, shows up more frequently among Samoyeds and Australian Terrier dogs. Blood disorders Bassett Hounds are prone to an inherited abnormality the effects the ability of the platelets in the blood to clump together after an injury. The blood doesn’t clot properly, leading to hemorrhage and bruising. Clotting problems also plague dogs with von Willebrand’s disease, a genetic condition frequent in Doberman Pinschers.

Neurological, behavioral, and sensory Neurological and behavioral problems afflict many pure breeds. Bull Terriers, for example, often compulsively chase their tails. Pugs are be predisposed to Pug Dog encephalitis, a fatal brain disease. Scottish Terriers are affected by Scottie Cramp, a disorder that causes the dogs to lose muscle control when they get excited. German Shepherds may inherit degenerative myelopathy, a crippling spinal cord disease that causes weakness and eventually paralysis. Hearing and vision Hereditary hearing loss is common in Dalmatians, Australian Cattle Dogs, and English Setters. Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Bichon Frise, and more than 60 other purebred dogs suffer from inherited forms of cataracts, while progressive retinal atrophy, a common cause of blindness in purebreds, is particularly a problem in Old English Sheepdogs and Papillons. Heart disease Sudden death from cardiac disease is recurrent in several dog breeds, including Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, and German Shepherds. Boxers can be genetically predisposed to an irregular heartbeat.

High blood pressure afflicts many small breeds including Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Staffordshire terriers, among others. Other organs and systems Low thyroid function crops up most frequently in Alaskan Malamutes, English Setters, Golden Retrievers, Keeshonds, Samoyeds, and Siberian Huskies. Gastric torsion, or bloat, a potentially life-threatening inability to expel gas from the digestive system, is common among deep-chested breeds such as the Great Dane, Doberman, and German Shepherd. An inherited form of kidney disease affects English Cocker Spaniels, while Dalmatians are prone to kidney stones and Basenjis suffer from Fanconi Syndrome, a potentially fatal inherited disease in which the kidneys fail to reabsorb nutrients. Liver damage and cirrhosis are common in Bedlington Terriers because of an inherited condition called copper toxicosis, in which high levels of copper accumulate in the liver. Cancer Cancers are strongly influenced by genetics, and so it is not surprising to find various types of cancer among different dog breeds.

For example, bone cancer, or osteosarcoma, is considerably more frequent among large and giant breeds of dogs, such as the Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Labrador and Golden Retriever, Greyhound, and Saint Bernard, because their bones are stressed by carrying so much weight. High rates of malignant blood vessel tumors are seen among Golden Retrievers, which are also prone to leukemia and brain tumors. German Shepherd Dogs and Chow Chows are predisposed to gastric cancer, while Scottish Terriers are 18 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than are other breeds. Orthopedic Hip dysplasia, in which looseness in the hip joint causes excessive wear that eventually leads to arthritis, is most common among large dogs, especially those like the German Shepherd Dog and the Saint Bernard which have heavy, broad hips. The long neck and large head of breeds such as the Great Dane and the Doberman can cause the compression of the spinal cord in neck vertebrae, leading to wobbling and falling (“wobbler syndrome”).

Selective breeding of the disproportionately short legs of breeds such as the Basset Hound and the Dachshund has led to bowed legs and chronic problems with elbow dislocation; the short legs and long back of Dachshunds causes them to suffer more often from ruptured vertebral disks. Because of their small bones, toy and miniature breeds are more likely to experience patellar luxation, the slipping or dislocation of the kneecaps. More from Dogs That Changed the World (13) Dalmatians - info and games Mammal Home A Dalmatian is a breed of dog, noted for its white coat with (usually) black spots. "Liver" (brown) and "lemon" (yellow) types also exist, though they are much rarer. In the U.S., Dalmatians are often known (and portrayed, for example in children's books), as firehouse dogs. Proportions and Colors: This popular breed of dog is a well-muscled, midsized dog with superior endurance. Known for its elegance, the Dalmatian has a body type similar to the Pointer, to which it may be related. The coat is short, dense, and fine.

The ground color is white with round, well-defined spots in either black or liver (brown). Lemon, orange, blue, tricolor, and brindle spots can also occur, but they are a disqualifying fault according to the breed standard. The feet are round and compact with well-arched toes. The nails are either white and/or the same color as the spots. The nose is black in black-spotted dogs, and brown in liver-spotted. The eyes are brown or blue, or rarely a brown-blue combination (a blue eye is a major fault in the UK, because of its link with hereditary deafness), with an intelligent expression. The ears are thin, tapering toward the tip, set fairly high and carried close to the head Puppies are born completely white and the spots develop later. Puppies can be born with patches, but patches are a disqualifying fault in the breed standard for show dogs. An Active Dog: As a result of their history as coach dogs, the breed is very active and needs plenty of exercise.

Their energetic and playful nature make them good companions for older children and teens, but may be a little too rough in play for younger children and toddlers, and as with all dogs, must be supervised when in the company of such. Dalmatians are quite affectionate and, if not provided with constant companionship, there is a risk they may become depressed. Like many intelligent dogs, they need to be kept stimulated or they may attack items lying around (especially those that smell like their owners). Dalmatians are famed for their loyalty, good memories, and kindly natures, although occasionally male Dalmatians can be aggressive towards other male dogs. They Smile? Some dalmatians exhibit a behavior that could be called "smiling". This involves drawing back their lips in what appears to be a snarl, without growling, to indicate submission. Deafness: Some Dalmatians have a tendency towards hereditary deafness, as is the case with many mostly white or all-white dogs, particularly if they have blue eyes. This is thought to be related to lack of melanin pigment in the inner ear and was also noted by Charles Darwin for blue-eyed white cats. There is even a human analog called Waardenberg's syndrome.

There is an accurate test (the BAER test) which can determine whether an individual can hear in both ears, only one or neither. Animals can be tested from 5 weeks of age. Only those with bilateral hearing (hearing in both ears) should be allowed to breed, although those with unilateral (hearing in one ear only) deafness make fine pets. Since bilateral deafness makes socialization and training of young puppies nearly impossible, most Dalmatian organizations strongly urge that puppies born with bilateral deafness are humanely euthanized. BAER testing is the only way of detecting unilateral deafness, and reputable breeders test their dogs prior to breeding. There is a strong link between blue eyes and deafness, and in the UK blue eyes are a major breed fault, although they are accepted in the US. It is believed this is one reason why the level of deafness is higher in US dalmatians than in their British cousins. Information from Dalmatian clubs can usually address this issue for new owners. Genetic Disorder: Dalmatians, like humans, the great apes, some New World monkeys, and guinea pigs, can suffer from hyperuricemia.

The latter lack an enzyme called uricase, which breaks down uric acid. However, in Dalmatians, the deficit seems to be in liver transport. Uric acid can build up in joints and cause gout or bladder stones. These conditions are most likely to occur in middle-aged males. Owners should be careful to limit the intake of purine by not feeding these dogs organ meats in order to reduce the likelihood of stones. Dalmatian History The breed was named in the 18th century after Dalmatia, then a part of the Venetian Republic. In 1955, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale set the origin of the dogs to the former Yugoslavia (and Croatia claimed it in 1994). However, no historical evidence of this breed being present in the Balkans dates before the early 20th century, when they were brought there from England. Because of these inconsistencies, various claims exist about the breed's origin. Similar dogs are known from archaeological findings and historical sources in ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome, but it is not exactly known if they are related to the modern Dalmatian.

According to some scholars, the name could stem from a 14th century painting in Florence by Andrea Bonaiuti, in which a group of dogs similar to the modern Dalmatians are shown next to a group of friars donning a stoat fur called "Dalmatica". These dogs were found frequently in the company of Gypsies, and are known to have been popular in the Vatican in the 16th century. The breed's origins are as a generalized working dog. They were used for so many tasks – herding sheep, hunting rodents or in a pack, and working as a retriever and as a bird dog – that they were never specialized into one particular area. Fireman's Best Friend? The Dalmatian's reputation as a firehouse dog appears to be rooted in its popular use as a carriage dog; that is, a dog whose role was to run alongside, and sometimes even under, horse-drawn carriages (therefore also known as Spotted Coach-dog). Carriage dogs were useful for clearing the way in front of the carriage, possibly for helping to control the horses when at a full run (such as for horse-drawn fire engines), and undoubtedly because they were attractive and eye-catching.

This use might have transferred to horse-drawn fire engines, although it is unclear why this link is made in the United States and not other countries. It is less well known that Dalmatians were also used as guard dogs, protecting a firehouse and its equipment from its rival firehouses. Mascot: The Dalmatian is also associated, particularly in the United States, with Budweiser beer and the Busch Gardens theme parks, since the Anheuser-Busch company's iconic beer wagon, drawn by a team of magnificent Clydesdale horses, is always accompanied by a Dalmatian carriage dog. The giga-brewer maintains several teams at various locations, which tour extensively. According to Anheuser-Busch's website, Dalmatians were historically used by brewers to guard the wagon while the driver was making deliveries. Big Responsibility: The breed experienced a massive surge in popularity as a result of the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith, and especially the Disney films based on the book. After the 1996 live action film 101 Dalmatians was released, some people bought the dogs without first thinking through the responsibilities of ownership.

For example, Dalmatians, having been bred to run with horses, require plenty of exercise that not all owners could provide. It is not clear whether these concerns turned out to be true, although there is evidence that problems occurred in 1961 when the first animated film, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, was released. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License Sirius Dog Health updated November 2011. The subject ailment is an imbalance in mineral assimilation resulting in abnormal deposits, sometimes between bones, often in layers of the skin or integument. Calcium deposits in the skin can be the result of injury, of metabolic changes, or of unknown factors. Since mineralization (calcium deposits) in skin can occur in a wide variety of unrelated diseases, a common thread among them is not easy to establish. One form of the condition is related to, or could be an early indication of, a canine version of the disorder which in humans is called Cushing’s Disease, although many dogs will never develop the distended abdomen, susceptibility to hematomas and bruising, or over-pigmented, sparsely-coated skin.

Indeed, that may be a sufficiently different disorder that it should be classified as a separate variety of hyperadrenocorticism or hyperglucocorticoidism. Some years ago, I wrote the first version of this paper as a response to requests for information by a British friend who phoned and said he was afraid he would lose his 18-month-old German Shepherd Dog, which had been limping badly on several limbs. England has a lower population than the United States does, both in humans and dogs, so it is natural for us to see more incidences of any particular health problem or genetic anomaly in the USA. Also, his GSD is of the “Alsatian persuasion” (style dating back to the go-it-alone and anti-German breeding of the post-war era), and this style has been decreasing numerically in proportion to the “Germanic” or what I prefer to call the international style in the past decade or more. So it was not surprising that he had not heard of any cases, even though the veterinary literature includes work of the ailment in his own country. The dog’s feet were extremely sore, and a whitish fluid exuded from the pads; it was analyzed and the diagnosis in the U.K.

was “calcium circumscripta,” which I thought I knew simply as “gout.” Many years ago, my friend and HD mentor, Dr. John Bardens, told me about a remedy or treatment he had devised for what he then called gout, but for the life of me, I could not remember what the medication was, or what variety of gout he meant. I was on the road when the call from England came in, but when I returned I consulted some references and was convinced that it was not this type. I told my English friend it may have been considered “rare” by his vet in England, but would be “downgraded” to “uncommon” in the USA. According to Carroll Weiss, Director of the Study Group on Urinary Stones, Health & Research Committee, Dalmatian Club of America, the term “gout” in the US (and within medical schools, hospitals, medical libraries, and medical dictionaries), is very specifically defined. It is the deposition within tissue of insoluble uric acid or purines (or metabolites) due to an inborn defect in the normal production of urine within the liver and kidneys.

Within both human and canine health circles, it is traditionally treated and controlled with one of several treatments, especially an anti-urate drug, “Allopurinol.” This drug would be totally inappropriate for conditions like calcinosis cutis that mimic true gout. It acts pharmacologically on the defect of abnormally producing insoluble uric acid and is indicated only for urate-induced gout, abnormal urinary crystals, or stones. Other conditions certainly resemble “gout” if minerals other than urates are deposited. But “gout” is exclusively reserved for urates and purines. Dalmatian owners will probably want to go to website for more on these disorders as seen in their breed. Thank you, Carroll. Gout in humans has often been the subject of cartoonist humor, and I used to read many examples in the “funny papers” of the 1940s and for many years after. Maggie may have had the only chance of keeping Jiggs from sneaking out for a night with the boys when he was suffering from gout.

The history of this cartoon goes far back to the Elizabethan era, when the British cartoonist Hogarth had a series entitled “Marriage a la Mode.” It showed the husband with his gout-afflicted foot bandaged and on a cushioned stool. This was to be copied up to the modern era, in drawings and stage plays. However, as my son found out when he had a “bout with gout,” it is most assuredly not funny to the sufferer. In this disorder, the insoluble uric acid or its chemical relations are deposited within tissues where, untreated, they can result in almost intolerable pain and even bone degeneration. The most common site for the deposits are probably localized areas in the foot where they can become visibly detected as tophi, which are deposits of uric acid (or its metabolites or salts, like urates) within the tissues about joints. Deposits of calcium carbonate and/or other calcium salts within tissues can resemble or even mimic tophi. Weiss says tophi look like bunions. The word comes from the Latin word for sandstone, which is what it probably looks and feels like. Dalmatians suffer from true urate gout.

It is rare but it also seems to be specific to this breed. More commonly seen is its urinary stone manifestation problem in the breed. Dalmatians are apparently the only breed of dog born with the defect in their kidneys and livers that can result in uric acid or “chemical relations” becoming insoluble and precipitating out in urine as crystals or “stones.” Two other species have the same inborn defect: man and apes. In humans, more develop the familiar gout than develop urinary stones. Weiss says that when humans do indeed have urinary stones, they form more in the kidneys than in the bladder — unlike dogs — where over 95% form in the lower urinary tract, where which is far more treatable and responsive to current non-surgical methods than if found in the kidneys. Parenthetically, this is the reason why the DCA Study Group prefers the term “Dalmatian urinary stones” rather than the incorrect, misleading, and more serious problem of “kidney stones.” Urinary stones form more in canines than in humans. Breeds other than Dalmatians can form urate crystals/stones but not for the same inborn reasons, according to Weiss.

The main subject of this article, however, is the calcinosis seen in other breeds, more in certain ones. It can be either generalized (a few to several areas) or localized (one or two spots). Considered a tumor (which word could refer to a cancer, a nodule, a cyst, or an impacted gland), the condition when found in the skin is also known as Calcinosis Cutis, which means calcified skin. It is usually a non-neoplastic (benign, not cancerous) disorder there. Boxers and Boston Terriers are predisposed to it on the ear and cheek. Calcinosis cutis circumscripta in humans is most often seen as nodules in the skin of the extremities, especially the hands (scleroderma). In the canine, it seems to be more variable in location and manifestation, but still frequently in areas of increased wear, though most researchers now discount any idea that trauma has any significance. Treating the dog with drugs designed to fight hyperglucocorticoidism is helpful in many but not all of the varieties or locations.

As described above, there are other crystal-related joint disorders referred to as gout or calcium pyrophosphate-dihydrate disease (pseudo-gout), and calcific periarthritis/tendinitis, which are managed by uric-acid-lowering medication. You may have met some people like my son, who have suffered from one of these. A diet lower in meat and certain other foods is usually prescribed. Histologically, the canine calcinosis disorder often appears as an amorphous granular material with fibrous trabecula (“bone”) cells and inflammation around it. As the lesion progresses, ulceration often occurs. Sometimes it starts or occurs at injection sites or where ears are cropped. If the calcinosis develops in injured tissue, it could be localized, in which case some have surmised it to be often associated with demodex, TB, staph infection, or granuloma caused by a foreign body such as grit or sand imbedded beneath the skin, or it could be connected with epidermoid cysts or malignant tumors. If it is localized, it could still be considered coincidental that it is found at wound sites.

If it is widespread, it is probably due to either hyperglucocorticoidism (hyperadrenocorticism) or diabetes. If there is no apparent damage to tissues, and no abnormalities seen in blood hormone levels, the calcium salt deposits may likewise be either localized or generalized. In the above types of the disorder, serum calcium levels (amount of calcium compounds circulating in the blood and lymph) are not abnormal, as is the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. If, however, the disorder metastasizes (travels from original location to others by means of abnormal cells being transported via the bloodstream), there have been seen abnormal calcium levels and in all of those cases, chronic kidney disease has been observed. According to Muller, Kirk, & Scott’s text on Small Animal Dermatology, “No therapy is beneficial” if it develops into the metastatic form. Considering all variations, we see such cutaneous mineralization in 40% of all dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. A telltale sign in the haircoat may be loss of hair, or hairs easily pulled out of the follicles.

Whether associated with glucocorticoid abnormality (sometimes found in puppies) or from an idiopathic (unknown, spontaneous) cause (in which case it almost always shows up after a year of age), Calcinosis cutis may take a year to clear it up, with drugs in the former cases or spontaneously in the latter. Since mineralization (calcium deposits) in skin can occur in a wide variety of unrelated diseases, a common thread among them is not easy to establish. Over-mineralization (too much calcium in the diet) should be considered a suspected factor in gout as well as in so many orthopedic disorders. Atop the kidneys sit the adrenal glands (whence comes the word “adrenaline”), the cortex layer of which produces hormones known as corticosteroids. One of these hormones is glucocorticoid, which affects the metabolism of glucose, a form of sugar taken in or even manufactured by the body. If the body makes too much, it results in that imbalanced hormonal condition known as hyperglucocorticoidism or hyperadrenocorticism, and if this becomes severe, an imbalance in minerals also occurs.

The calcinosis cutis could be widespread, appearing in any or all of the following: skin along the back, armpit, groin, flanks, over bony protuberances such as foot bones and vertebrae, and (reportedly) apocrine (sweat) glands. In the dog, these apocrine glands are found primarily in the tongue and pads, although a small amount of perspiration is possible in the rest of the skin; in humans, these glands are mainly in the area of hair follicles. Researchers have held differing ideas regarding the involvement, if any, of these glands. The renowned dermatologist Dr. Danny Scott, whom I profiled several years ago in my Dog World article, “Itch!,” has discounted the involvement of apocrine gland origins. Similar glands are found elsewhere in the integument, such as merocrine sweat glands in the pads, where the secretion is more watery, although a small amount of perspiration is possible in the rest of the skin. In the dog, other similar glands are found in the tongue. How does canine calcinosis come about?

Well, etiologically speaking, it could be that there develops an abnormal breakdown of hydrocortisone in the genetically-predisposed dog or even from an almost entirely environmental cause, which leads to molecular structural changes in proteins such as collagen and elastin so that the tissue chemically attracts and binds calcium. Also there may be unseen mineralization in lungs, stomach wall, and skeletal muscles, where there may be tissue damage at a later time. A good argument for neutering an affected dog is that almost everything is “genetic” to some degree. There are references in the literature about this once-called-gout occurring in related dogs, such as Dr. L. N. Owen’s 1967 article on Irish Wolfhounds in Volume 8 of Journal of Small Animal Practice, although you probably want to remember that there are different types, and that which occurs in the hock possibly could have a different heritability than in other locations. Drs. Scott and Buerger, in the Nov./Dec. 1988 volume of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, “found no indication of familial occurrence” in their study of idiopathic calcinosis circumscripta.

One form seems connected with polyarthritis or HOD (see Canine Orthopedic Disorders, by and available from this author) but in these cases it goes away when those diseases associated with mineral imbalance or poor metabolism of calcium subside. Those cases usually appear near the shoulder blades and hip joints. When occurring over pressure points and bony prominences or bones close to the skin, nearly a quarter of the lesions are seen in the hock area, almost a fifth in the phalanges of the toes, about 17% in elbows, and 10% in the lower dorsal neck area. There is ten to twenty times more involvement in the tarsal-metatarsal (hock) area than in the footpad. The dogs with calcification of the “skin” in the pads possibly are exhibiting a different form, and since they limp, it is diagnosed faster than if gout appears elsewhere in the skin as plaques, nodules, or papules (bumps). Typically, a milky or chalky white liquid, often gritty or paste-like, can be expressed if the pad is lanced or sliced, and this was the beginning of the definitive diagnosis in the case of my English friend’s dog.

One of my vet-tech correspondents described the hock lesions in her breed (Wolfhounds) as being sometimes open and weeping, sometimes closed and cauliflower-like. Her advice was if it were not open or very painful, “ignore” it for six months, as they often diminish in size and even disappear without treatment. She also had one of her pups develop a lesion on its tongue, and having chosen to delay surgery, found that it had gone from large-marble size to pea-size in four months. We should not draw conclusions from one type and apply them to others. Some 80% of cases of localized idiopathic calcinosis cutis are in large breeds including many Great Danes and Irish Wolfhound; over 50% of affected dogs are German Shepherd Dogs. Most are less than two years of age when diagnosed, as was the British GSD, yet most cases show up after one year of age, so it is just when a show career might be starting that the problem does, too. It is usually a benign disorder, with normal serum calcium levels (amount of calcium compounds circulating in the blood and lymph).

However, the disorder can be cancerous and with the metastatic form of the disease, these levels will be abnormal, as is the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. If the calcinosis is widespread, it is probably due to hyperglucocorticoidism or diabetes or else it has already metastasized. If there is no apparent damage to tissues, and even if no abnormalities are seen in blood hormone levels, the calcium salt deposits may likewise be either localized or generalized. The benign nodules are generally up to one-quarter inch in diameter and shaped like domes although frequently they lie under a layer or more of skin so their shape is not seen until removed. Typically, treatment for this form (rather than drugs aimed at the adrenal glands) involves cutting out the granular material, but this can be from disappointing to satisfactory, depending on the individual dog, the degree and type of lesion, and removing the whole lesion. There does not appear to be development of new lesions in the same place after successful (complete) surgical excision, and many dogs have gone well over eight years without recurrence in the same location. Treatment of the generalized forms still involves treating the underlying causes such as skeletal disease or blood chemistry and metabolism.

This may take a year to clear up, and that is about the same time that it takes for most cases to spontaneously regress. Generalized gout, whether associated with glucocorticoid abnormality (sometimes found in puppies) or from an idiopathic (unknown) cause almost always shows up after a year of age, and it may take a year to clear it up, with drugs in the former cases or surgically or spontaneously in the latter. Some time after I faxed copies of medical articles to England, my friend informed me that his dog was being successfully treated and I later learned that it recovered completely, thanks to the surgical removal of the deposits. Although foot pad involvement in other breeds may indicate the metastatic variety, localized calcinosis circumscripta and successful surgical removal has been reported several times now in the German Shepherd Dog, and in breeds less often afflicted. Fred Lanting is an internationally respected show judge, approved by many registries as an all-breed judge, has judged numerous countries’ Sieger Shows and Landesgruppen events, and has many years experience as one of only two SV breed judges in the US.

He presents seminars and consults worldwide on such topics as Gait-&-Structure, HD and Other Orthopedic Disorders, and The GSD. He conducts annual non-profit sightseeing tours of Europe, centered on the Sieger Show (biggest breed show in the world) and BSP. All Things Canine consulting division, Willow Wood Services. Tel.: 256-498-3319 M r.GSD[at]netscape.com Also use this address for inquiries regarding judging or lecturing schedule and availability. Canine Hip Dysplasia and Other Orthopedic Problems It covers all joints plus many bone disorders and includes genetics, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and the role that environment plays. This highly-acclaimed book is a comprehensive (nearly 600 pages!), amply illustrated, annotated, monumental work that is suitable as a coffee-table book, reference work for breeders and vets, as well as a study adjunct for veterinary students, for the dog trainer and the general dog owner of any breed. The Total German Shepherd Dog This is the expanded and enlarged second edition, a “must” for every true GSD lover.

It is an excellent alternative to the “genetic history” by Willis, but less technical and therefore suitable for the novice, yet very detailed to be indispensable for the reputable GSD breeder. Chapters include not only such topics as: History and Origins, Modern Bloodlines, The Standard, etc., but also topics of great value to owners of any other breed, such as Anatomy, Nutrition, Health and First Aid, Parasites and Immunity, Basics of Genetics, Reproduction, Whelping, The First Three Weeks, Four to Twelve Weeks, and a Trouble-shooting Guide.

Question: What is the only breed of dog that can suffer from gout
Answer: Dalmatian